100+ Free PASC Practice Questions

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Question 1

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According to the JCIH 2019 Position Statement, every newborn should be screened for hearing loss by what age?

By 1 week of life

By 3 months of age

By 6 months of age

By 1 month of age

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PASC Exam

100

Scored Items

PASC Handbook 2025

2.5 hrs

Exam Time

ABA PASC Exam Information

$395

Exam Fee (Member)

ABA Fees 2026

86.9%

2025 First-Time Pass Rate

ABA PASC Update

May 4-18

2026 Test Window

ABA 2026 PASC announcement

3 yrs

Recertification Cycle

ABA PASC Handbook (60 CE hours)

550

Required Peds Hours

PASC eligibility (within 2 years)

The PASC exam contains 100 scored items (plus 20 beta) administered in 2.5 hours via online live remote proctoring. The 2026 testing window runs May 4-18 with applications due March 10. The exam fee is $395 (member) / $440 (non-member) plus a $125/$160 application fee. The 2025 first-time pass rate was 86.9%. Eligibility requires 2,000 post-externship hours plus 550 direct pediatric patient contact hours within 2 years. Recertification is every 3 years with 60 CE hours.

Sample PASC Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PASC exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1According to the JCIH 2019 Position Statement, every newborn should be screened for hearing loss by what age?

A.By 1 week of life

B.By 1 month of age

C.By 3 months of age

D.By 6 months of age

Explanation: JCIH 2019 endorses the EHDI 1-3-6 protocol: screening by 1 month, diagnostic evaluation by 3 months, and intervention enrollment by 6 months. Earlier identification correlates with better language outcomes. The PASC blueprint emphasizes EHDI benchmarks as foundational pediatric audiology knowledge.

2A 4-month-old fails the newborn rescreen with otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) bilaterally. According to AAA pediatric guidelines, the next most appropriate diagnostic test is:

A.Behavioral observation audiometry only

B.Repeat OAEs at 6 months

C.Frequency-specific ABR using air- and bone-conducted tone bursts

D.Pure-tone audiometry with conditioned play

Explanation: AAA and JCIH recommend frequency-specific ABR with air- and bone-conducted tone bursts as the gold-standard diagnostic test for infants under 6 months who refer on screening. Bone conduction is essential to differentiate sensorineural from conductive loss. OAEs alone cannot quantify hearing thresholds.

3Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) is the recommended behavioral test technique for which developmental age range?

A.Birth to 5 months

B.6 months to 24 months (developmental age)

C.30 months to 5 years

D.5 years and older

Explanation: VRA is appropriate from approximately 6 to 24 months developmental age, when infants can reliably perform a head turn that is reinforced by a lighted toy. Below 6 months developmental age, head/trunk control is insufficient. Above 24 months, conditioned play audiometry (CPA) becomes more appropriate.

4When performing tympanometry on an infant under 6 months of age, which probe-tone frequency is recommended?

A.226 Hz

B.500 Hz

C.1000 Hz

D.2000 Hz

Explanation: ASHA and AAA pediatric guidelines recommend a 1000 Hz probe tone for infants under 6 months because the infant ear canal is highly compliant, producing false-negative (normal-looking) 226 Hz tympanograms even with middle ear effusion. The 1000 Hz probe is more sensitive to middle ear pathology in this age group.

5Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) is characterized by which audiologic profile?

A.Absent OAEs and present ABR

B.Present OAEs and/or cochlear microphonic with absent or grossly abnormal ABR

C.Normal pure-tone thresholds with intact word recognition

D.Elevated acoustic reflex thresholds with normal ABR latencies

Explanation: ANSD is defined by evidence of outer hair cell function (present OAEs and/or cochlear microphonic on ABR) combined with disordered neural function (absent or grossly abnormal ABR). Behavioral thresholds vary widely. Acoustic reflexes are typically absent, and speech perception is disproportionately poor for the pure-tone audiogram.

6According to the AAA 2013 Pediatric Amplification Guideline, the prescriptive fitting target of choice for children is:

A.NAL-NL2

B.DSL v5.0 (pediatric)

C.POGO

D.Half-gain rule

Explanation: AAA 2013 recommends DSL v5.0 (pediatric) as the prescriptive target for children because it accounts for the audibility needs of developing language and provides more gain in soft inputs. DSL is validated for pediatric populations and ensures audibility across a broad range of input levels critical for spoken language learning.

7Real-ear-to-coupler difference (RECD) measurement in pediatric hearing aid fittings is used to:

A.Verify a hearing aid's compression ratio

B.Convert coupler-measured hearing aid output to ear-canal level for the individual child

C.Measure the child's loudness discomfort level

D.Assess feedback margin

Explanation: RECD quantifies the acoustic transformation from a 2 cc coupler to the child's actual ear canal. Because children have small ear canals, generic RECD values may underestimate true ear-canal SPL. Individual RECD measurement allows accurate simulated REM verification when the child cannot tolerate a probe-microphone fitting, which is common in pediatric care.

8An IEP is developed under which federal law for school-age children with disabilities including hearing loss?

A.Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

B.Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

C.Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B

D.Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Explanation: IDEA Part B governs special education services for children ages 3-21, including the IEP (Individualized Education Program). IDEA Part C governs early intervention services (birth to age 3), where the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) is used. Both processes involve audiologists in eligibility, planning, and service delivery for children with hearing loss.

9The most commonly recommended classroom accommodation for a child with mild-moderate sensorineural hearing loss using personal hearing aids is:

A.Preferential seating only

B.A remote-microphone (RM) system

C.An FM-only loop system

D.A sign language interpreter

Explanation: A remote-microphone (digital RM or FM) system coupled to the child's personal hearing aids provides the most consistent improvement in signal-to-noise ratio in classrooms. AAA's 2011 Remote Microphone Hearing Assistance Technologies guideline endorses RM as standard of care for children with permanent hearing loss in educational settings.

10The current FDA-approved minimum age for cochlear implantation in children with bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss is:

A.6 months

B.9 months

C.12 months

D.18 months

Explanation: In 2020, the FDA lowered the approved minimum implantation age to 9 months for the Cochlear Nucleus device for children with bilateral profound SNHL; subsequent approvals have extended similar age criteria. Earlier implantation supports critical-period auditory-language development. Many centers implant off-label even earlier for children with bilateral profound loss.

About the PASC Exam

The Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC) is the specialty board credential awarded by the American Board of Audiology to audiologists who demonstrate advanced expertise in pediatric audiologic practice. Successful candidates use the Board Certified in Pediatric Audiology designation. The exam contains 100 scored items plus 20 unscored beta items, administered in 2.5 hours by online live remote proctoring. It covers six content areas: Assessment/Diagnosis (24%), Case Management/Counseling (22%), Habilitation/Rehabilitation (21%), Medical Audiology (16%), Professional/Regulatory (9%), and Educational Audiology (8%). Content aligns with JCIH 2019, AAA 2013 Pediatric Amplification Guideline, AAA 2012 Childhood Hearing Screening Guideline, and ASHA ototoxicity monitoring criteria.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

2.5 hours

Passing Score

Criterion-referenced (modified Angoff); pass/fail reported

Exam Fee

$395 member / $440 non-member (American Board of Audiology (ABA), a board of the American Academy of Audiology)

PASC Exam Content Outline

24% (24 of 100 scored items)

Assessment and Diagnosis

Pediatric behavioral audiometry (BOA, VRA, CPA, conventional), OAE and ABR/ASSR, tympanometry (1000 Hz probe in infants under 6 months), acoustic reflexes, masking with insert earphones, cross-check principle, ANSD diagnostic pattern, pediatric speech tests (NU-CHIPS, WIPI, PB-K, BKB-SIN), VEMP and vestibular screening.

22% (22 of 100 scored items)

Case Management and Counseling

Family-centered care, diagnostic counseling, shared decision-making, cultural and linguistic access (qualified medical interpreter use, Section 1557), genetic counseling referrals, ophthalmologic referral (Usher screening), patient/family-reported outcomes (PEACH, HEAR-QL, LittlEARS), care coordination across medical, educational, and community providers.

21% (21 of 100 scored items)

Habilitation/Rehabilitation

Pediatric hearing aid fitting using DSL v5 prescription, RECD measurement, real-ear and simulated real-ear verification, Speech Intelligibility Index (SII), aided sound-field thresholds, Ling six-sound test, cochlear implant candidacy (FDA 9-month minimum) and activation/follow-up, bilateral CI rationale, bone-conduction systems (BAHA/Ponto softband and implanted), remote-microphone coupling.

16% (16 of 100 scored items)

Medical Audiology

Genetic etiology (GJB2/connexin 26, GJB6, OTOF, Usher, Pendred/SLC26A4, Jervell and Lange-Nielsen), enlarged vestibular aqueduct, congenital CMV, otitis media (AAO-HNS guidelines, tympanostomy tube criteria), ototoxicity (cisplatin, aminoglycosides) and ASHA monitoring criteria, sudden SNHL urgent referral, JCIH 2019 risk indicators.

9% (9 of 100 scored items)

Professional and Regulatory Issues

ASHA and AAA Codes of Ethics, scope of practice, HIPAA (TPO, parental authorization), FERPA, teleaudiology (licensure compact, informed consent, HIPAA platforms), documentation standards, billing and coding basics, PASC recertification (3-year cycle, 60 CE).

8% (8 of 100 scored items)

Educational Audiology

IDEA Part C (IFSP, 2-working-day referral, 45-day evaluation), IDEA Part B (IEP, transition planning by age 16), Section 504 accommodations, ANSI/ASA S12.60 classroom acoustics (35 dBA noise, RT60 <0.6 s), remote-microphone (RM) systems and AAA 2011 RM-HAT guideline, LIFE-R, ADA Title III for postsecondary.

How to Pass the PASC Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Criterion-referenced (modified Angoff); pass/fail reported
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 2.5 hours
Exam fee: $395 member / $440 non-member

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PASC Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study JCIH 2019 in depth: the 1-3-6 benchmarks, expanded risk indicators (CMV especially), and surveillance recommendations are heavily tested

2Master AAA 2013 Pediatric Amplification Guideline including DSL v5 use, RECD measurement, SII targets, and verification with real-ear or simulated REM

3Memorize FDA cochlear implant minimum age (9 months for Cochlear Nucleus since 2020) and bilateral CI rationale; expect candidacy and activation timing questions

4Know the ANSD diagnostic triad: present OAE/CM, absent or grossly abnormal ABR, absent acoustic reflexes; understand NICU risk factors (hyperbilirubinemia, prematurity, OTOF mutations)

5Practice tympanogram interpretation including the 1000 Hz probe requirement for infants under 6 months and Type A/B/C/As/Ad recognition

6Review IDEA Part C versus Part B: IFSP (birth-3, 2-working-day referral, 45-day evaluation) and IEP (3-21, transition by 16), plus 504 accommodations

7Study ASHA ototoxicity monitoring criteria (20 dB at one frequency, 10 dB at two adjacent, or loss of response at three consecutive frequencies)

8Familiarize with major syndromic SNHL: Usher (SNHL + RP), Pendred (SNHL + EVA + goiter), Jervell and Lange-Nielsen (SNHL + long QT), and EVA management

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PASC certification?

The Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC), awarded by the American Board of Audiology (ABA), is a specialty credential for audiologists with advanced experience and expertise in pediatric audiology. Holders may use the Board Certified in Pediatric Audiology designation. PASC sits above general audiology licensure and ASHA's CCC-A or ABA general certification.

Who is eligible to take the PASC exam?

Candidates must hold a current state/provincial audiology license (or ABA International certification) and document 2,000 post-externship full-time hours as an audiologist, plus 550 direct pediatric post-graduate patient contact hours within a 2-year window, plus 50 hours of pediatric case management. All packets undergo eligibility review.

How many questions are on the PASC exam and how long is it?

The PASC contains 100 scored items plus 20 unscored beta items (120 total). All items are four-option multiple-choice (single-answer or multiple-response). Candidates have 2.5 hours (150 minutes). The exam is delivered online with live remote proctoring.

How much does the PASC exam cost in 2026?

The exam fee is $395 for Academy members and $440 for non-members. A separate application fee of $125 (member) or $160 (non-member) is also required, bringing total first-attempt cost to $520-$600. Three-year recertification is $360.

What is the PASC passing score and pass rate?

Passing is set by a criterion-referenced modified Angoff methodology; candidates receive a pass/fail result with content-area breakdowns. The 2025 first-time test-taker pass rate was 86.9%. There is no fixed passing percentage; the standard reflects the level expected of a competent pediatric audiologist.

When can I take the 2026 PASC exam?

Registration is open January 6 through April 7, 2026, with the application deadline March 10, 2026. The exam is administered online via live remote proctoring from May 4-18, 2026. Candidates schedule their individual appointment within the testing window.

What is the PASC retake policy?

Candidates who do not pass may retake the exam at their discretion within 5 years of the first test date. Each attempt requires a new exam fee. Score reports detail content-area performance so candidates can target study time effectively before retesting.

How do I maintain PASC certification?

Recertification occurs every 3 years and requires 60 continuing education hours in pediatric audiology content. Annual fees apply throughout the cycle. CE must align with the ABA-approved pediatric content categories; consult the current PASC handbook for category-specific requirements.